Orange star Mike Williams quits team

Mike Williams, SU's top receiver, told head coach Doug Marrone that he has quit the team.Frank Ordonez / The Post-Standard

Syracuse University wide receiver Mike Williams quit the Orange football team this morning, head coach Doug Marrone said.

Williams, who was the team's leading receiver and a semifinalist for the award given to the nation's top receiver, went into Marrone's office and said he was leaving the team immediately. Marrone said Williams "approached me" and had not been summoned for discussion.

Marrone said he had not spoken to members of the football team about Williams' decision, though he believes they already know.

"We're headed forward," Marrone said in response to how the news might affect the Orange. "There's no one individual including myself that's more important than the program. The program is headed forward.

"Again, I go back to my original statement - you might not see it in the win-loss column, but if you're looking, you can see it with the players."

Asked why Williams quit the team, Marrone said, "you'd have to ask him. I have no idea.

"I'm not going to discuss the conversation from my end. Obviously, I told you that he came up to me and voluntarily took himself off the team. That's it."

Asked if he was surprised, Marrone said, "I've been in this business long enough not to get surprised by a lot of things."

Williams had 49 catches for 746 yards and six touchdowns this season. He ranks No. 1 in the Big East for receptions per game and receiving yards. He ranks 20th nationally for total receiving yards and 14th nationally in receptions per game (7.0).

Williams missed all of last season after being dismissed from school following accusations of academic dishonesty. He attended a community college and was readmitted this season. Williams served a one-game suspension for violating team rules prior to the Akron game. He was reinstated immediately after the game.

Marrone was asked if there was a contradiction in that he's asking the community to believe in his team and program when one of its best players just walked out the door?

"No, I don't," Marrone said. "Because you know what? It's not about one person. It's about this team. And the people that are playing out there are giving us what they have. What more would you want from a student-athlete? What more would you want from a professinal athlete? You put someone out on that football field and he works hard all during the week and he gives you everything he has, what more could you ask for? I turn that question to you? I'm curious. What more would you ask when someone gives you everything that they have?

"Let's focus on where this team's going. I know that everyone has a job to do. That's fine. But you have to believe in the program. You have to believe in what it's been about. There's been a foundation at this school going on for a long time. That's called faith. Faith is believing in something that you can't just touch. I believe - I believe in my heart - I know, I feel very comfortable in saying, we're headed in the right direction."